Effect of cation nature on vacuum tribo-degradation and lubrication performances of two tetrafluoroborate ionic liquids

摘要

Vacuum lubrication and tribo-degradation performance investigations of two imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquids (ILs, LAB103 and LB104), were systematically conducted by the VFBT-4000 vacuum four-ball tribometer equipped with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. They both have quite wide liquid range with high thermostability and good fluidity at low temperature. Results of vacuum tribological tests show that LAB103 present better lubricity and lower corrosivity as compared with that of LB104, due to its strong adsorption layers and robust tribofilms on worn surfaces. Tribo-degradation test results exhibit that the decomposition of ILs is mainly caused by frictional stimulus. The decomposition products partially diffuse to vacuum chamber, being captured by mass spectrometer detector and others participate in the tribochemical reactions.